Varsity football defeated the Hendrickson Hawks on senior night, Oct. 25, for their chance in the playoffs.

A last-second win versus the Cedar Ridge Knights on Oct. 18 — the team’s biggest victory in 6A, gave the boys their step up in the fight to earn a post-season spot.

“We just wanted to throw it up and give it a chance, because a chance is all we needed. It was all adrenaline [against Cedar Ridge]. It was like a flash, and we all stormed the field,” junior Malachi Byrd said. “I definitely thought that Kyle would be able to do it. You can’t really have any doubt or else it’s not gonna happen.”

The boys have one game left against Round Rock after a bye week before they set off for playoffs. If it’s a win, the team will have a final district record of 8-2.

“My mindset is the same as it is every week — face this opponent and win,” junior Emon Allen said. “We have to remember that cooler heads prevail, meaning we’re gonna play our style. We don’t really talk; we play with our helmets.”

A key point to finishing district is the focus required from the entire team.

“[Round Rock has] a really good running back, he’s big and physical, but I think we’ll do him like we do the other backs by making him tap out around the late fourth quarter,” Byrd said. “We mainly have discussed how we need to execute, create turnovers, get TFL’s and pretty much do what we do.”

The Hendrickson game was not expected to have a great turnout, even though it was senior night. However, supporters came out and cheered anyway, despite dropping temperatures.

“When the student section is hype, it gives us a lot of support, because I know they’re all counting on me and the rest of the team to make a name for Vista Ridge,” Byrd said. “I know that all the support was for us to get better than last season, and I think we’ve done that. There’s always going to be fake fans, they’re only good with us when were doing good on the field. But I think it shouldn’t change our mindset at all. We should go out there and play a 100 percent. Even if we are 1-9 or 7-2.”